Moondru Tamizh
From Pillaiyo Pillai · 1972
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Pillaiyo Pillai1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Moondru tamil thondriyathum unnidamo | Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you? |
| Moondru tamil thondriyathum unnidamo | Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you? |
| Nee moovendhar vazhi vantha mannavano | Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties? |
| Nee moovendhar vazhi vantha mannavano | Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties? |
| Male | |
| Naangu gunam saernthathum orr pennidamo | Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman? |
| Adhu nadai pazhagi vanthathenna ennidamo | How did it learn to walk and come to me? |
| Naangu gunam saernthathum orr pennidamo | Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman? |
| Adhu nadai pazhagi vanthathenna ennidamo | How did it learn to walk and come to me? |
| Adhu nadai pazhagi vanthathenna ennidamo ennidamo | How did it learn to walk and come to me, to me? |
| Male | |
| Naangu gunam saernthathum orr pennidamo | Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman? |
| Male | |
| Uthithathu paar sengathithaan keezh dhisaiyil | Look, the red sun has risen in the east. |
| Adhan olivellaam paainththu paar vaanveliyil | Look at its light spreading across the sky. |
| Uthithathu paar sengathithaan keezh dhisaiyil | Look, the red sun has risen in the east. |
| Adhan olivellaam paainththu paar vaanveliyil | Look at its light spreading across the sky. |
| Female :Kadhir polae naan kandaen mannan mugam | Female: Like the sun, I saw my king's face. |
| Adhan oliyaalae malarum | By its light, I bloom... |
| Naan sengamalam sengamalam | I am a red lotus, a red lotus. |
| Male | |
| Moondru tamil thondriyathum unnidamo | Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you? |
| Female :Nee moovendhar vazhi vantha | Female: You who came from the lineage of the three crowned kings, |
| Mannavano mannavano…. | Oh King, Oh King... |
| Female | |
| Pani mazhaiyil nanainthathenna malar vizhigal | Why are those flower-like eyes soaked in dew-rain? |
| Unnai paarkkaiyilae pesidumo kilimozhigal | When looking at you, will parrot-like sweet words speak? |
| Pani mazhaiyil nanainthathenna malar vizhigal | Why are those flower-like eyes soaked in dew-rain? |
| Unnai paarkkaiyilae pesidumo kilimozhigal | When looking at you, will parrot-like sweet words speak? |
| Male | |
| Iru kanigal kaaithathenna oru kodiyil | Why did two fruits yield on a single vine? |
| Adhu virunthenavae thavazhnthathenna en madiyil | Why did it crawl onto my lap as a feast? |
| Adhu virunthenavae thavazhnthathenna en madiyil en madiyil | Why did it crawl onto my lap as a feast, onto my lap? |
| Female: Moondru tamil thondriyathum unnidamo | Female: Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you? |
| Male | |
| Ila nagaithaan nee ezhuthum sirukathaiyo | Is your tender smile a short story written by you? |
| Adhan idai thondrum naanamthaan munnuraiyo | Is the modesty that arises in between its preface? |
| Ila nagaithaan nee ezhuthum sirukathaiyo | Is your tender smile a short story written by you? |
| Adhan idai thondrum naanamthaan munnuraiyo | Is the modesty that arises in between its preface? |
| Female | |
| Idam thanthaal nadappathellaam thodarkathaiyo | If given room, will everything that happens become a serial story? |
| Antha ilakkiyaththil vidinthaalthaan mudivuraiyo | In that literature, will the dawn bring the epilogue? |
| Male | |
| Naangu gunam saernthathum orr pennidamo | Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman? |
| Adhu nadai pazhagi vanthathenna ennidamo | How did it learn to walk and come to me? |
| Adhu nadai pazhagi vanthathenna ennidamo ennidamo | How did it learn to walk and come to me, to me? |
| Female | |
| Moondru tamil thondriyathum unnidamo | Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you? |
| Nee moovendhar vazhi vantha mannavano | Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties? |
| Nee moovendhar vazhi vantha mannavano….mannavano…. | Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties... oh king... |
மூன்று தமிழ் தோன்றியதும் உன்னிடமோ
மூன்று தமிழ் தோன்றியதும் உன்னிடமோ
நீ மூவேந்தர் வழி வந்த மன்னவனோ
நீ மூவேந்தர் வழி வந்த மன்னவனோ..
Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you?
Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you?
Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties?
Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties?
நான்கு குணம் சேர்ந்ததும் ஓர் பெண்ணிடமோ
அது நடை பழகி வந்ததென்ன என்னிடமோ
நான்கு குணம் சேர்ந்ததும் ஓர் பெண்ணிடமோ
அது நடை பழகி வந்ததென்ன என்னிடமோ
அது நடை பழகி வந்ததென்ன என்னிடமோ என்னிடமோ
Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman?
How did it learn to walk and come to me?
Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman?
How did it learn to walk and come to me?
How did it learn to walk and come to me, to me?
நான்கு குணம் சேர்ந்ததும் ஓர் பெண்ணிடமோ.......
Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman?
உதித்தது பார் செங்கதிர்தான் கீழ்த்திசையில்
அதன் ஒளிவெள்ளம் பாய்ந்தது பார் வான்வெளியில்
உதித்தது பார் செங்கதிர்தான் கீழ்த்திசையில்
அதன் ஒளிவெள்ளம் பாய்ந்தது பார் வான்வெளியில்
கதிர் போலே நான் கண்டேன் மன்னன் முகம்
அதன் ஒளியாலே மலரும்
நான்செங்கமலம் செங்கமலம்..
Look, the red sun has risen in the east.
Look at its light spreading across the sky.
Look, the red sun has risen in the east.
Look at its light spreading across the sky.
Female: Like the sun, I saw my king's face.
By its light, I bloom...
I am a red lotus, a red lotus.
மூன்று தமிழ் தோன்றியதும் உன்னிடமோ
நீ மூவேந்தர் வழி வந்த
மன்னவனோ மன்னவனோ.......
Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you?
Female: You who came from the lineage of the three crowned kings,
Oh King, Oh King...
பனி மழையில் நனைந்ததென்ன மலர் விழிகள்
உன்னைப் பார்க்கையிலே பேசிடுமோ கிளிமொழிகள்
பனி மழையில் நனைந்ததென்ன மலர் விழிகள்
உன்னைப் பார்க்கையிலே பேசிடுமோ கிளிமொழிகள்
Why are those flower-like eyes soaked in dew-rain?
When looking at you, will parrot-like sweet words speak?
Why are those flower-like eyes soaked in dew-rain?
When looking at you, will parrot-like sweet words speak?
இரு கனிகள் காய்த்ததென்ன ஒரு கொடியில்
அது விருந்தெனவே தவழ்ந்ததென்ன என் மடியில் அது
விருந்தெனவே தவழ்ந்ததென்ன என் மடியில் என் மடியில்..
மூன்று தமிழ் தோன்றியதும் உன்னிடமோ.....
Why did two fruits yield on a single vine?
Why did it crawl onto my lap as a feast?
Why did it crawl onto my lap as a feast, onto my lap?
Female: Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you?
இள நகைதான் நீ எழுதும் சிறுகதையோ
அதன் இடை தோன்றும் நாணம்தான் முன்னுரையோ
இள நகைதான் நீ எழுதும் சிறுகதையோ
அதன் இடை தோன்றும் நாணம்தான் முன்னுரையோ
Is your tender smile a short story written by you?
Is the modesty that arises in between its preface?
Is your tender smile a short story written by you?
Is the modesty that arises in between its preface?
பெண்
: இடம் தந்தால் நடப்பதெல்லாம் தொடர்கதையோ
அந்த இலக்கியத்தில் விடிந்தால்தான் முடிவுரையோ....
If given room, will everything that happens become a serial story?
In that literature, will the dawn bring the epilogue?
நான்கு குணம் சேர்ந்ததும் ஓர் பெண்ணிடமோ
அது நடை பழகி வந்ததென்ன என்னிடமோ
அது நடை பழகி வந்ததென்ன என்னிடமோ என்னிடமோ......
Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman?
How did it learn to walk and come to me?
How did it learn to walk and come to me, to me?
மூன்று தமிழ் தோன்றியதும் உன்னிடமோ
நீ மூவேந்தர் வழி வந்த மன்னவனோ
நீ மூவேந்தர் வழி வந்த மன்னவனோ......மன்னவனோ......
Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you?
Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties?
Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties... oh king...
Moondru tamil thondriyathum unnidamo
Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you?
Moondru tamil thondriyathum unnidamo
Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you?
Nee moovendhar vazhi vantha mannavano
Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties?
Nee moovendhar vazhi vantha mannavano
Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties?
Naangu gunam saernthathum orr pennidamo
Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman?
Adhu nadai pazhagi vanthathenna ennidamo
How did it learn to walk and come to me?
Naangu gunam saernthathum orr pennidamo
Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman?
Adhu nadai pazhagi vanthathenna ennidamo
How did it learn to walk and come to me?
Adhu nadai pazhagi vanthathenna ennidamo ennidamo
How did it learn to walk and come to me, to me?
Naangu gunam saernthathum orr pennidamo
Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman?
Uthithathu paar sengathithaan keezh dhisaiyil
Look, the red sun has risen in the east.
Adhan olivellaam paainththu paar vaanveliyil
Look at its light spreading across the sky.
Uthithathu paar sengathithaan keezh dhisaiyil
Look, the red sun has risen in the east.
Adhan olivellaam paainththu paar vaanveliyil
Look at its light spreading across the sky.
Female :Kadhir polae naan kandaen mannan mugam
Female: Like the sun, I saw my king's face.
Adhan oliyaalae malarum
By its light, I bloom...
Naan sengamalam sengamalam
I am a red lotus, a red lotus.
Moondru tamil thondriyathum unnidamo
Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you?
Female :Nee moovendhar vazhi vantha
Female: You who came from the lineage of the three crowned kings,
Mannavano mannavano….
Oh King, Oh King...
Pani mazhaiyil nanainthathenna malar vizhigal
Why are those flower-like eyes soaked in dew-rain?
Unnai paarkkaiyilae pesidumo kilimozhigal
When looking at you, will parrot-like sweet words speak?
Pani mazhaiyil nanainthathenna malar vizhigal
Why are those flower-like eyes soaked in dew-rain?
Unnai paarkkaiyilae pesidumo kilimozhigal
When looking at you, will parrot-like sweet words speak?
Iru kanigal kaaithathenna oru kodiyil
Why did two fruits yield on a single vine?
Adhu virunthenavae thavazhnthathenna en madiyil
Why did it crawl onto my lap as a feast?
Adhu virunthenavae thavazhnthathenna en madiyil en madiyil
Why did it crawl onto my lap as a feast, onto my lap?
Female: Moondru tamil thondriyathum unnidamo
Female: Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you?
Ila nagaithaan nee ezhuthum sirukathaiyo
Is your tender smile a short story written by you?
Adhan idai thondrum naanamthaan munnuraiyo
Is the modesty that arises in between its preface?
Ila nagaithaan nee ezhuthum sirukathaiyo
Is your tender smile a short story written by you?
Adhan idai thondrum naanamthaan munnuraiyo
Is the modesty that arises in between its preface?
Idam thanthaal nadappathellaam thodarkathaiyo
If given room, will everything that happens become a serial story?
Antha ilakkiyaththil vidinthaalthaan mudivuraiyo
In that literature, will the dawn bring the epilogue?
Naangu gunam saernthathum orr pennidamo
Did the four womanly virtues come together in a single woman?
Adhu nadai pazhagi vanthathenna ennidamo
How did it learn to walk and come to me?
Adhu nadai pazhagi vanthathenna ennidamo ennidamo
How did it learn to walk and come to me, to me?
Moondru tamil thondriyathum unnidamo
Did the three forms of Tamil originate from you?
Nee moovendhar vazhi vantha mannavano
Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties?
Nee moovendhar vazhi vantha mannavano….mannavano….
Are you a king descended from the three great royal dynasties... oh king...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic romantic duet from the film 'Pillaiyo Pillai' celebrates deep romantic admiration using classic Tamil literary tropes. The lovers praise each other by comparing their beauty, character, and royal demeanour to Tamil literature, royal dynasties, and elements of nature. The male lead marvels at the heroine's grace, comparing her virtues to Tamil literature ('Moondru Tamil' - Iyal, Isai, Nadagam) and the four traditional womanly virtues ('Naangu Gunam' - Acham, Madam, Naanam, Payirppu). In response, the female lead compares herself to a lotus blooming upon seeing the rising sun of her beloved king.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Moondru tamil thondriyathum unnidamo”
Comparing the heroine's graceful existence and virtues to the origin of the three divisions of Tamil language (Iyal, Isai, Nadagam).
Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)
“Nee moovendhar vazhi vantha mannavano”
Refers to the ancient royal dynasties of Tamil Nadu (Chera, Chola, Pandya) known together as 'Moovendhar'.
Personification and Hyperbole
“Naangu gunam saernthathum orr pennidamo Adhu nadai pazhagi vanthathenna ennidamo”
Personifies the four traditional womanly virtues (Acham, Madam, Naanam, Payirppu) as taking physical form and walking toward him.
Simile (Upamai)
“Kadhir polae naan kandaen mannan mugam Adhan oliyaalae malarum Naan sengamalam”
Compares the beloved's radiant face to the sun rays ('Kadhir polae') and the heroine's heart/face blooming like a red lotus ('sengamalam').
Metaphor (Metaphorical Imagery)
“Ila nagaithaan nee ezhuthum sirukathaiyo Adhan idai thondrum naanamthaan munnuraiyo”
Compares romantic courtship and interactions to literary elements like a short story ('sirukathai'), preface ('munnurai'), and serial novel ('thodarkathai').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Pillaiyo Pillai' (1972) starred M. K. Muthu (son of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi) in his debut role. The lyrics by Vaali are rich in classical Tamil imagery, intentionally crafted to reflect classical literary heritage while maintaining a melodious, accessible romantic tune composed by M. S. Viswanathan.
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